ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s ongoing fuel crisis will have no impact on the national carrier SriLankan Airlines or any aviation service, the subject minister said on Thursday (20).
“State Minister of Aviation and Export Zones Development, DV Chanaka has stated that the current fuel crisis in the energy sector will not affect SriLankan Airlines or the aviation services of this country,” the Board of Investment (BOI) said in a statement.
“SriLankan Airlines already has enough fuel reserves for the next one and a half months. Last week, 32 million US dollars was paid for future purchases of fuel. SriLankan Airlines also has the dollar reserves required to purchase fuel.”
According to the BOI statement, the minister has also said steps have been taken to ensure the services provided to SriLankan Airlines are never disrupted.
The minister’s assurance comes amid Sri Lanka is grappling with a fuel crisis due to a dollar shortage. The island nation’s energy ministry has said it has limited diesel stock to supply for thermal power generation.
The central bank this week assured it will provide dollars to clear some fuel consignments at the Colombo Port that have been delayed from unloading due to lack of dollars. (Colombo/Jan20/2022)